After last week's menswear challenge, I never thought there could be that much serious ugly (Laura, anyone?) again on Project Runway. That is, until this week's episode, when Nina Garcia gave the designers their challenge to update outdated trends. We're talking zoot suits, shoulder pads, and pleather. Serious ugly! But even funnier than the outdated trends was the fact that Jillian was wearing overalls, which just happened to be one of the passé looks. Oops.

This was definitely one of the most creative challenges of the season so far, but what I loved more was that it was a group challenge, with teams of three being instructed to incorporate their various trends into a cohesive line. Team challenges always lead to more intensity and drama, and boy, did these designers bring it — namely Victorya and Ricky, who couldn't agree on who was leading the team, and Jillian and Rami, who fought over how to manage Kevin's sewing pace. Oh, the joys of the group challenge.
To read more about each of the teams on last night's ProjRun (including my favorite quote of the night) and to see a gallery of all the looks, read more
Team Ricky: Ricky and Victorya definitely were the most dynamic duo this time around. Their collection's lack of cohesion reflected their differing opinions on who was leading the group. Elisa was just there for the ride, but, once again, she created one of the better pieces on the runway. She certainly surprised me. Victorya surprised me, too, and not in a good way. She usually creates one of the best garments, but last night her strapless dress looked a little like an ice-skating costume. Wrong challenge, Victorya!
Team Jillian: Jillian, Rami, and Kevin were asked to update overalls, '70s flare, and a poodle skirt. Talk about a haphazard bunch. Surprisingly the group was able to pull it off, despite Jillian and Rami's concern over Kevin's slow pace, and subsequently won the challenge. I'm beginning to think Jillian is one to watch. Unfortunately, I can't say she's one to listen to. She's such a bore.
Team Star (AKA Team Christian): Christian, Jack, and Kit paired up to update pleather, zoot suits, and fringe. The end result was a cohesive collection, but I agreed with Kit, who said the "fabrics were a little bit muted once they were on the runway." In the end, Christian's team's looks were strong enough to push them to the next round without the wrath of the judges. The same cannot be said for Team Chris. Even Christian proclaimed his disdain for Team Chris's collection with my favorite line of the episode: "But you never know. The judges might die over it, or they might die because of it." Love it!
Team Chris: Chris' team (Sweet P and Steven) was charged with updating shoulder pads, a baggy sweater, and dancewear. Donna Karan (the guest judge) really liked Sweet P's dress, and it was lovely but unfortunately — as Steven said himself — the looks were too "fragmented, separated." Ultimately, the judges thought Chris's shoulder pads were a little too literal and still an outdated trend. Therefore, Heidi bid him her auf wiedersehen. Chris wasn't my favorite designer, but I'll miss his hilarious commentary.
What do you guys think? Was the right person auffed? Did Jillian's team deserve to win? And, most importantly, were you surprised Ricky could make it a whole episode without crying?
Photos courtesy of Bravo

















Anne Weyburn
Development
Vive Maria
personally i was hoping ricky would be cut. i think he wasn't a good leader and his was so poorly made. at least chris' was well made, even if a bit off. although, i feel like the shoulder pads were the hardest fashion don't to update.
1Ricky needs to go. I can't remember him doing well on a challenge yet. He's really not that entertaining, unlike Chris. I just don't understand why he's sticking around.
2I was also hoping that Ricky would be cut. While we didn't have to deal with anymore of his tears, he did wear that hideous mesh hat again.
Also, was anyone else distracted by the dent in Donna Karan's chest?
3amen to ricky being cut instead of chris! i was kind of hoping that we'd be able to see one of his crazy costumes come out in a challenge... and i'm done with ricky crying all of the flippin' time
4No I cannot believe raicky did NOT cry. That's his MO And yes the group challenge brings out the ugly in everyone!
5Ricky should have gone. He hasn't done anything great so far. I felt so sorry for Chris.
6Was it Ricky's group that had the neon trend in their trio? Whereas the silk he picked was vibrant, I wouldn't have necessarily called the colors neon, but what do I know. I absolutely hated all three of their pieces (excepting maybe Elisa's, who is quickly becoming my favorite designer just because of her little idiosyncracies). The color combo for Ricky's design looked like Snow White in the 21st c. I am SHOCKED he didn't cry in this episode. He came close though.
I think the only reason Sweet-P and Steven volunteered Chris as a team leader is because (as they saw in the previous team epidsode) the team leader is the one that usually gets the blame if things go badly and they didn't want to be in that position. I would not want to be team leader, it's automatic death sentence unless you've already proven your work is good.
7ricky is def getting to me. i really love christian and his over the topness. I'm pulling for kit this season!
8Agreed, Ricky is super annoying, but I think he's got major talent under there, and we get a small glimpse every once in a while. (ie...He truly understands a womans body and how to fit it..Now if only he could finish a piece.
I really love Jillian's designs, but can't stand her. She's got the weirdest most monotone voice.
I don't have a favorite yet...I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Splayer...I was thinking the same thing! So weird!
9last night's episode made me pretty mad!
first of all, ricky should definitely have gone home. he has not made one good, well-constructed piece yet. chris's shoulder pads were hideous, but he doesn't have nearly as bad an overall track record as ricky does. and even though his team's collection wasn't "cohesive," he still seemed like a better leader than ricky.
and victorya realllly made me mad! it was so obvious that she wanted to be the leader and have all of the say without the consequences of being the leader (being the first to go if the team doesn't do well). she even said "i don't want to be the leader" when they were deciding who it would be. i really dislike her now.
10My favorites so far: Kit and Elisa. Both are very talented and off-beat in their own ways.
But i fell asleep during PR!!! And then i slept again for the encore! Sigh...i'll have to catch it again sometime this weekend. They replay that show sooo much (love it!).
11Am I the only one who loves Ricky?? i love when he cries, it makes my night. I HATE VICTORYA!!!! she really needs to leave.
12HATE Ricky, I was hoping that last night was his last challenge. He's too of a sissy for me. I think the judges are giving him too many chances and he keeps getting worse.
13I loved it when Sweet P was asked to choose who would go next and she was doing an eeenie - meenie-miny-mo.
Jillian's voice makes me want to poke my eyeballs out. Sheesh.
14lindodo, I love Ricky too, and relish his tears
!! I am glad he got a reprieve, maybe next
week he'll step up. I am beginning to think Kit is going to go far, but this show is so unpredictable, who knows!! I love the previews, because they're always like, "Next week, the designers
face their most disasterous challenge yet!!", and sure enough, we always get to see plenty of disaster!
15I can't believe they let chris go and Ricky didn't even cry in this epsiode.
16what a waste (i'm kidding by the way)
But no seriously i was hoping Ricky would be cut because he wasn't a great team leader and his construction of the outfits that the team made just didn't seem right. Even though Chris was bad too but to me it was better. Plus Ricky had a bad outfit last week and the first week as well. So i'm completely clueless to why they let Chris go.
I thought Ricky should have went. I thought all his team designs looked terrible and the fabric choice was horrid. I am yet to choose a favorite designer yet.
17I don't mind Ricky.
But I will sorry for Christian and his team.
I thought there designs were good. But it seems like judges are not quite into Christian's style.
I LOVE Elisa. I thinks she is quite interesting person.
18I don't know why all the other designers hate her.
She is just different... and it's good!
Does it make me a bad person that I can't stand Tim Gunns voice?
19splayer, i was TOTALLY distracted by the dent in DK's chest!!! how weird was that?! i was hoping either team jillian or team star would win, but i wanted ricky to go home. he's such a drama queen, and i hate his weird hats
particularly the sparkly
conductor number he was rocking last night.
20I agree with the winner: Jillian's team did awesome!!! As for who should've gone home, just like everyone else - it should've been Ricky. When you're always in the bottom, when do you say "enough is enough!"
21Jillian's team did the best. They were awesome, but Kit is my favorite!
22Jillian reminds me a little of Rita Ruddner, the stand up comic.
23Ricky needs to leave and then Elisa next
24I like Elisa - I think people don't want to like her because she is a bit wacky. To me she exists as a lovely contrast to someone like Christian who thinks he is the end all, be all of fashion.
25agreed: i'm slowly warming up to Elisa as well -- i especially loved it when Ricky was trying to explain dress-forming to her in a "dancer" way. at the same time, i'm slowly despising Victoriya... even she had to admit that Ricky's help with her dress made sense BUT only after she let it settled in... WHAT! and unfortunately, i too will miss Chris' funny comments and can't understand why Ricky didn't get canned. until next week -- can't wait!
26why won't they get rid of Ricky?! seriously, he's been in the bottom 2 at least twice. last week his piece wasn't hemmed/sewn and this week they said it looked unfinished too. i'll be so glad when he's gone. especially since i won't have to look at his stupid hats anymore!
27I saw Ricky crying in the waiting room before the final judgment! He hasn't made it through a single episode without crying. His record still stands!
Chris deserved to stay and Ricky deserved to go. Being the team leader is the kiss of death on this show, but Chris's garment wasn't as ugly as Ricky's, and his team got along way better. I think Ricky should have been auf'd. Maybe they were afraid of a meltdown?
28i still have faith in ricky. i hopehopehope he shocks everyone and wins a challenge. i liked his dress the first week even if it was simple and i think his personality is sweet. i think he has the kind of anxiety where you wonder if it was lifted just how awesome he would be.
29Ricky should have been in the one to go. Kit so far is my favorite and I also really like Jillian, Sweet P, Rami, and Kevin.
30tundrababe, i didn't notice that. I have to check it out in the rerun. Now the epsiode it awesome. my friends and i were making bets on how much into the show would it take for Ricky to cry, we al thought we lost. But i think my one friend one now that you said that!
31I know this is mean but I didn't know how busted Donna Karen looks. Yikes...
32I'm really starting to love Christian and his snarky comments, but why are the judges smoking crack? Ricki has done terribly on three out of four challenges, and Chris only messed up once. I mean, his last outfit was held together with safety pins. I can only guess that they have a thing for his Village People hats.
33I was surprised that Chris left because at least his garment looked well-made. Ricky's (again) looked disgusting and cheap. How many times will this guy be in the bottom two before the judges kick him off? And will someone take that stupid hat off his head? It's SO awful! Every time I look at him I get images of The Village People and 1980's male dancers. *shudder* A designer should at least have some sense of fashion, right??
And did anyone else get the impression that Victorya kind of pushed the leadership role on Ricky when they were discussing who should be leader?
michstines - I was thinking the same thing about Donna. Yikes. Again, shouldn't designers have some fashion sense? Her outfit was way wrong.
34I can only hope that they will vote Ricky off next week! I am so intrigued to see what everyone in the previews is getting emotional about... I have a feeling it has to do with the fact tha Jack has HIV as he revealed in the second episode. Will have to wait to Wed to find out!!
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